Ultra-powerful quantum computers hold the potential to transform everything from manufacturing to medical research, but until now they have not found any commercial uses. This could be about to change, after transport giants Daimler and Delta partnered with IBM to develop real-world applications for the nascent technology.
For the Mercedes manufacturer, it could result in electric vehicle batteries capable of traveling more than 1,000km without needing to recharge.
For the world’s most valuable airline, it could mean vastly improved route scheduling, with Delta CIO Rahul Samant saying the partnership with IBM would allow the airline to “draw the blueprints” for quantum computers within the industry.
Quantum computers promise to make such advancements possible by combining the peculiar properties of quantum physics with computer science to achieve processing power that is exponentially more powerful than traditional computers.
